Weather shocks and pesticide purchases

16 April 2024

LAMASUS researchers investigated the relation between pesticide use and abnormal weather.

Using a unique, exhaustive dataset detailing all active substance purchases per zip code in France between 2014 and 2019, LAMASUS researchers econometrically explain abnormal pesticide purchase deviations by weather shocks. Heterogeneous weather impacts across pesticide types, seasons and locations were identified. Because our analyses suggest limited year-to-year pesticide storage and farmers’ adaptation along other margins, our estimates are interpreted as true weather impacts on pesticide use. Our preferred estimates suggest that, ceteris paribus, farmers increase pesticide use by seven to fifteen per cent in 2050 under a RCP4.5 climate change scenario.

These results are now published in European Review of Agricultural Economics.